Noa Taylor Beck

Growing up in Georgia, Noa Taylor Beck ventured west when she was 21, joining Rocky Mountain Youth Corps as a crew member in 2017 and returning the next year as an assistant crew leader. Now a life skills coach out of Asheville, N.C., and studying to become a counselor and therapist, her brush with stardom came in fall 2024 when she was selected to appear for 21 days on the Discovery Channel’s reality TV series Naked and Afraid. The show strands two complete strangers, a man and a woman sans clothing, in a dangerous, desolate location, without any food or water. Each episode follows the two as they attempt to survive, with only one personal item each, “hoping their instincts, survival skills and intestinal fortitude serve them well.” We caught up with Noa for her take on her time at RMYC and how it helped her prepare for the show.

How did you like your time at RMYC? 

My first season, I had a love-hate relationship with being at RMYC. I was learning how to backpack and live in the woods for the first time and that was challenging. But I was also learning the rewarding experiences that come from pushing through challenges. Over time, I learned to love the challenge and ultimately came back for more.

What all did you do? 

A lot of trail work. I was a crew member in 2017 and an assistant crew leader in 2018.

How did you first hear about RMYC? 

Prior to RMYC, I had spent most of my life in Georgia and had never traveled west of the Mississippi. In the middle of my college years, I felt a desire to see and discover more. So I looked on the AmeriCorps website at summer opportunities in Colorado.

Any special memories working with RMYC crews? 

There are so many memories from working there. The second crew I was on was especially wholesome. At the end of the season, a few members made paper plate awards and held a goofy ceremony for them. We also sang “Rivers and Roads” throughout the season to commemorate the transient and intimate nature of our relationships. We shared so many peak experiences together, summiting 14ers, backpacking through beautiful wilderness areas, and experiencing the absurdity and joy of entering a gas station or taking a shower after a week in the woods.

Why is it important to engage youth in the outdoors? 

Being in a community in a natural setting during my early adulthood was essential in helping me discover who I am. Youth need the natural world for a lot of reasons, but I believe nature is our greatest teacher and people need that throughout life.

What do you love about RMYC? 

I love how RMYC promotes opportunities for growth, self-exploration, and community for young people. And I loved the fun and playfulness

Any advice for future crew members? 

Enjoy it. There will come a time when this experience will no longer be accessible to you, and you will cherish the memories forever.

Did your position with RMYC help you prepare for Naked & Afraid?

RMYC led me to rediscover and shape a new relationship with the outdoor world. This grew over time and I continued to grow my skills. I’d say RMYC planted the seeds of grit and love for wilderness in me and ultimately led to participating on Naked & Afraid.

What was the hardest part of doing the show? 

Probably being partnered with someone who was radically different from me and had an entirely different relationship to nature than I did. We learned how to work together, but it required effort, and it was challenging because we were starving. 

Have any humorous stories from it? 

We moved locations on Day 11 and had to build a new shelter halfway through the day. But we couldn’t finish it and had to surrender ourselves to nature. That night, we got pummeled with the hardest rainfall we had. I was laying on my side and had a puddle in my mouth. It was so ridiculous that we started to laugh hysterically and started howling. It was a low point, and we made it fun. We had so many challenges out there and we coped with them by having fun. My partner had a log that he used as a pillow. Every day, we would carve another notch into it and joked that it was having a birthday, growing older as we achingly waited for Day 21 to come.

You live in Asheville, North Carolina…were you there when Hurricane Helene hit?

Yes. Asheville got hit very hard by the hurricane, but I think my time with RMYC and Naked and Afraid helped me deal with the aftermath. My comfort with being off grid and my primitive skills left me with more confidence to navigate such things as the power and water outages. 

What are you up to now? 

I live in a tiny home and enjoy spending time in the loal community. I love to garden and practice skills promoting earth-based self-sufficiency. I try to get out into the woods as much as I can and have developed a strong affinity for tending fire. I work full-time as a life skills instructor and am in school to become a licensed counselor and therapist.